By Muhammad Basir Roslan
BANTING: His weakness in reading, writing, and arithmetic (3M) left this Orang Asli teenager anxious about his future, as he realised that with his current level of education, he wouldn’t be able to improve his own or his family’s well-being.
However, his fate took a turn when he met Mastinah Mohd Sani, the owner of Azam Motor, a one-stop vehicle repair centre. This encounter transformed the life of 19-year old Azrai Along.
“I met her through an intermediary, and at that time, I didn’t know anything about vehicle engines, let alone how to repair them,” said the Jah Hut teenager from Kampung Sungai Mai, Jerantut, Pahang.
The Jah Hut is one of the smallest Orang Asli tribes in the country, with a population of around 4,000.
Affectionately known as Uun, the young man, who was met at Azam Motor Banting, shared that despite his weaknesses in 3M, he managed to learn about vehicle engines within a year and now knows how to perform minor repairs, such as changing engine oil.
“I’m now a mechanic, but I want to continue learning here until I’m truly skilled so that I can open my own workshop in my hometown,” he said, noting that he has been working at Azam Motor since last year.
Diverse ethnicities, diverse ages
Meanwhile, Mastinah, who is also the Managing Director of Azam Motor, said so far, the company has employed four Orang Asli workers, but only Unn has stayed on.
“If given the opportunity, I would definitely hire more from this community to help improve their socio-economic status. Many of them have hidden talents; they just need to be nurtured,” she told Bernama, adding that despite lacking prior skills, they are provided with a starting salary of RM1,500 per month.
She also believes that with proper implementation, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has the potential to significantly uplift the socio-economic status of Orang Asli youth, particularly those facing learning challenges.
Furthermore, she said Azam Motor, which has branches in Salak Tinggi, Kajang, and Sungai Buloh, Selangor, employs 55 workers from various ethnic backgrounds and ages.
“We have a Chinese worker named Keong. He was rejected by other workshops several times, but we hired and trained him until he became a good mechanic.
“We also give opportunities to former addicts. In fact, we have a few female mechanics. For instance, Fatin Nazira, who travelled from Pahang to learn wiring and air conditioning with us,” Mastinah said, adding that the oldest worker is 60 years old.
According to her, the effort is supported by the Department of Skills Development (JPK), Ministry of Human Resources, which accredited Azam Motor as a National Dual Training System (SLDN) centre in 2014.
SLDN centre
“Therefore, anyone who comes here to learn is very welcome. What’s important is that they have a deep interest in automotive work, and our workshop is fully equipped. They will be taught the skills to repair various types of vehicles, including heavy vehicles,” she said.
Mastinah noted that those with primary school examination certificates, such as the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM), will be awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level Three if they pass the tests conducted by JPK.
“Typically, having an SKM Level Three makes it easier for someone to be employed in any company and allows them to apply for higher salaries compared to other graduates,” she added.
However, for cases like Azrai, who has no school examination certificates, he must undergo training and gain experience at the workshop for three years to qualify for Recognition of Prior Achievement (PPT) from JPK.
“Once he has PPT, it becomes easier for him to be awarded SKM Level Three,” she added.
PPT is one of the methods to recognise individuals who can prove that their prior experience and achievements meet the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS).
“This is important for saving training costs, increasing company productivity, and improving our image and service quality to customers,” she said.
At the same time, Mastinah said that her company will also send employees to participate in skill training offered by other organisations to help them enhance their expertise.
“This step is crucial for developing skilled workers in the automotive sector, helping us reduce reliance on foreign labour,” she said.
Starting from the bottom
Reflecting on her journey in vehicle repair, Mastinah, who is also President of Persatuan Usahawan Pembangunan Automotif Wanita Malaysia (Puspawm) shared that she was once a primary school teacher in Selangor. However, she left her job to help her husband grow their workshop business.
“Before we reached this point, my husband, Mispan Ribut, 58, worked at various workshops and then started his own business in Shah Alam in 1986. Unfortunately, due to the location not being strategic, the business did not turn out to be very profitable.
“So, he returned here and opened another workshop in 1990. After we married in 1993, I quit my teaching job to focus on management, while my husband preferred to immerse himself in engine oil at the workshop,” she shared.
According to her, the workshop business is highly competitive, forcing them to find ways to attract customers.
“As such, we decided to transform the workshop into a one-stop centre offering a wide range of comprehensive automotive services,” she said, adding that she is proud that Azam Motor is recognised as the first multi-service workshop owned by a Malay woman in the country.
She said that their workshop offers repair services for all types of vehicles, including motorcycles and heavy machinery.
“Our workshop is fully equipped. We offer all services, including welding and repainting,” she said, noting that they also prioritise environmental sustainability and collaborate with the Department of Environment to recycle used items like tyres, used oil, and more.
Priority
Recognising that the sector is often considered ‘dirty and dangerous,’ Mastinah emphasised that safety and health are top priorities at Azam Motor.
“Every worker is required to wear full safety gear and will not be allowed to work if they do not comply with this rule,” she stressed.
“We have also invested over RM500,000 in equipment like lift jacks to enhance safety and health aspects. We don’t want our workers to suffer from back and spinal issues due to regularly lifting heavy objects. Such cases are common, so we ensure that all equipment and machines are maintained every six months,” she added.
Additionally, Mastinah said they provide their workers with training in occupational safety and health, including preparedness and emergency treatment in case of accidents.
To boost employee performance and motivation, she said the company offers special rewards and assistance, such as RM1,000 for the birth of a child, funeral assistance, monthly grocery contributions, and financial aid for registering children in higher education institutions.
“We want our employees to be happy working with us,” she added. – BERNAMA
